Circle marker



$93M; 1953 A. J. GOODFORD 5L843 CIRCLE MARKER Filed Aug. 16, 1950 In mentor Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCLE MARKER Anthony J. Goodford, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,741

3 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a circle marker and more specifically pertains to circle marker attachments for use with rulers of either the folding or the flexible tape type, for adapting these rulers for use as compasses for scribing circles and arcs of circles of various sizes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide circle marking attachments for use with rulers of either the folding ruler or the steel tape type whereby the ruler may be adapted for use as a compass for scribing or tracing circles or arcs of circles of various sizes with ease and accuracy, and wherein the ruler and the attachments may be compactly folded when not in use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide circle marking attachments for rulers which may be readily applied to, removed from or adjusted longitudinally of various types of rulers with ease and accuracy.

A still further object of the invention is to provide circle marking attachments for rulers which are specifically adapted for use with conventional forms of flexible steel tape rulers which are yieldingly wound in cup-shaped or cylindrical containers.

And a final important object of the invention is to provide a set of circle marking attachments for rulers which are equally applicable for use with pencils, scriber points, marking chalk and the like for describing circles and arcs of circles of a wide variety of radii.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, pre- 'ferred embodiments of which have been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is applied to a flexible steel ta e for adapting the same to describe an arc with a pencil employed as a scriber:

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section 2--2 of Figure 3 and showing the manner in which the center point clip is adapted to be attached to a flexible steel tapeand the housing for the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substant ally upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane in- 2 dicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrating the manner in which a scriber clip attachment is associated with the end of a hexible steel tape for guidingly receiving a scriber such as a pencil;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified application of the principles of this invention associated with a folding rule; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Reference is now made more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views.

In the following description, it is to be understood that the term ruler as used hereinafter and in the appended claims is to be considered as generic to either the flexible steel tape type of ruler or the folding wooden or steel ruler, Figures 1-4 illustrating the invention as applied to a flexible steel tape ruler, while Figures 5 and 6 disclose the application of the invention to a folding wooden or steel rule.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, it will be apparent that the invention consists of a center point clip or attachment indicated generally by the numeral 10 and a scriber clip attachment indicated generally by the numeral I2, these attachments being removably and adjustably secured to a flexible steel tape Id at longitudinally spaced positions along said tape.

As will be readily understood, the flexible steel tape I4 is conveniently of the type which is yieldingly and resiliently coiled in a cylindrical or cup-shaped housing It, the forward end of this tape having a depending flange or lip IS in accordance with customary practice.

The center point attachment l0. as will be apparent from Figures 1, 2 and 3, consists of a fiat sheet metal plate 20 of any suitable thickness, which is provided with a pair of integral upstanding side walls 22 and 24, which are adapted to receive the side edges of the tape l4 and the sides of the tape housing I6 therebetween. As will be readily understood, although sheet metal may be conveniently employed as the material from which the center point clip is constructed, this attachment can likewise be formed of any other suitable material as desired.

A resilient finger 26 in the form of a leaf spring which may be integrally or rigidly attached to one of the side walls as 24, or which if desired may be constructed by striking out a portion of the side wall to form an integral tongue therewith, is provided for yieldingly biasing the housing 5 and/or the edge of the tape l4 against the other side wall 22. Thus, the tape and/or the housing I6 are resiliently and frictionally held in the attachment [0.

At any convenient point, the bottom surface of the plate is provided with 9, depending center point 28 which is adapted to be pressed into the surface .upon which it is desired to inscribe an are or circle. The center point 28 may be conveniently formed by striking downward a portion of the plate 20 to provide an integral depending tab beneath the same; or may be formed as a separate point welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the plate 20.

Conveniently, the plate 20 is provided with a further depending member W'intheform pf 'a flange or the like which may serve to support the attachment It! as the latter is rotated about the center-point'w .to therebymaintain the plate 20 upon a substantiall-yparallel plane to that of the surface upon which the are or .circleisto'be inscribed.

At its forward end, the plate 20 extends beyond the side walls 22 and 24, as well as the center point 28 to thusvprovide a forwardly extending .portion 32, which upon one edge of the same may be provided with a'V-shaped notch34 which is substantially in the same transverse plane as like 40 which thus .is adapted to adjustably clamp the tape I4 between the bracket and the plate extension 32 to thus lock the tape in adjusted, extended position.

As so far described and illustrated, the attachment ID has been applied to.a flexible steel,

tape I4. It will be readily apparent, however, that the same could just as easily be appliedato a folding type of rule, whether of wooden oixsteel construction.

Reference is now -made more particularly to Figures 1 and 4 for an understanding of the construction and operation of the scriber clip l2. The latter conveniently comprises a sheet metal bracket'having parallel upper .andlower plates 42 and 44 whichare integrallyconnected by ans upstanding side wall 46, a .thumblscrew 48 being screw threadedly engaged in one of the plates, such asthe upper plate 42 forclamping the 'forward end of the tape I4 between the two plates. By means of this thumb screw, the scriber bracketis thus adjustably clamped to a portion .of theiruler which is spacedfrom the center point clip I6.

One of the parallel plates of the bracket, such .for example as the upper plate 42, is extended. .for-wardly from the other plate-and is provided with means for vguidingly receiving a scriber. This means .may conveniently. comprise a suitable guideaperture 50 through which .may-beextended a scriber such .as .a.pencil.52, the aperture 50 and if desired the forward dependingflange 48 of the ruler 14 serving "to position and guide thescriber 52 as-the latter is rotated through an are as the device is oscillated -or turned about the center point 28 of the center point clip ll).

flange or plate 66.

However, the means for guidingly receiving the scriber further includes a preferably integral, upstanding plate 54 rising from the upper plate 42 in advance of the aperture 50, the outer surface of the plate 54 constituting a seat or shoulder for receiving the side of a scriber such as a pencil, a carpenters pencil, marking chalk and the like. To facilitate the engagement of the member received and guided by the plate 54, the latter iszprovide'd at oneiside with a vertically and longitudinally-disposed projection or flange 56.

The members 54 and 56 thus serve to selectivel-y-support alternative scribers as desired; or may cooperate to provide a finger grip when the operator employs a scriber such as that at 52 during the operation of the device.

It will be readily understood that various types of scribers can be employed with this invention, since the pencil 54 could be replaced with. scribing point apen or. any other-marking or scribinginstrument.

The attachments so .far described are equally applicable to the flexible steel tape l4 or to a folding type of rule.

However, .a .further embodiment of theinvention of a somewhat simplified construction may be employed which although not limited to the .folding type of ruleis specifically and efficacious- .ly applicable thereto.

This modification consists of the .previously described center point clip [.0 together with a modified form of scriber clip, shown in Figures 5 and .6 and indicatedgenerally by the numeral 60. The scriber clip .60 comprises parallel upper and lower plates 62 and 64 which are vertically spaced .in substantially parallel relation, and

which are integrally joined-as by a vertical side A thumb screw 68 is screw threaded through the upper plate'62 for-clamping a folding rule 10 between these plates. The

lower plate 154 is preferably extended laterally beyond "the side edge of theupper plate 62 to provide'a lateral projection 12 which is notched or recessed as at T4. Conveniently, the'bottom plate 64 may be notched or cutaway as'at 16 to provide a downturned struck-out portion 18 constituting '2. depending point.

The attachment 60 may also be substituted for the center point clip ID by clamping this at tachment at any desired positionalong the rule 10 from the previously described scriber point attachment l2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the center point attachment -and the scriber attachmentof this invention areequally applicable to the folding type or the flexible tape type of rules to adapt the latter for eflicaciously describing circles or arcs of any predetermined magnitude.

not desired. to limit the invention to the-exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications .and equivalents may be re- .sortedto, falling'within-thescope of-the appended .7

claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. -A circle marker attachment for rulers comprising a center point clip and a scriber clip adapted for attachment to spaced portions of a ruler, said center point clip comprising an elongated plate having a center point depending therefrom, a pair of side walls rising from said plate for receiving the edges of a ruler therebetween, a bracket mounted on said plate and disposed forwardly of said side walls in spaced overhanging relation upon said plate, a clamping member on said bracket for adjustably securing a ruler between said plate and bracket, a resilient member on one wall for yieldingly biasing a ruler against the other wall, said clamping member being disposed in axial alignment with said center point.

2. A circle marker attachment for rulers comprising a center point clip and a scriber clip adapted for attachment to spaced portions of a ruler, said center point clip comprising an elongated plate having a center point depending therefrom, a pair of side walls rising from said plate and being interconnected with each other 'solely through the medium of the plate for receiving the edges of a ruler therebetween, a bracket mounted on said plate and disposed forwardly of said side walls in spaced overhanging relation upon said plate, a clamping member on said bracket for adjustably securing a ruler between said plate and bracket, said clamping memher being disposed in axial alignment with said center point said scriber clip comprising a bracket having parallel upper and lower plates, a clamping member on said scriber clip bracket for adjustably securing a ruler between said parallel plates, means on said scriber clip bracket for guidingly receiving a scriber in alternate positions, said last means including an aperture in one of said parallel plates for receiving a scriber point, and an upstanding plate on one of said parallel plates and a guide shoulder on said upstanding plate.

3. A circle marker attachment for rulers comprising a center point clip and a scriber clip adapted for attachment to spaced portions of a ruler, said center point clip comprising a plate having a center point depending therefrom, a pair of side walls rising from said plate for receiving the edges of a ruler therebetween, a bracket mounted on said plate and disposed forwardly of said side walls in spaced overhanging relation upon said plate, a clamping member on said bracket for adjustably securing a ruler between said plate and bracket, said clamping member being disposed in axial alignment with said center point said scriber clip comprising a bracket having parallel upper and lower plates, a clamping member on said scriber clip bracket for adjustably securing a ruler between said parallel plates, means on said scriber clip bracket for guidingly receiving a scriber, said last means including an upstanding plate on one of said parallel plates and a guide shoulder on said upstanding plate.

ANTHONY J. GOODFORD.

References Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,677 Morrill May 19, 1891 493,062 Bruno Mar. 7, 1893 588,129 Clough Aug. 17, 1897 647,064 Baashuus Apr. 10, 1900 805,216 Lynch Nov. 21, 1905 1,014,803 Bohn Jan. 16, 1912 1,153,135 Rodeck Sept. 7, 1915 1,259,836 McLeod Mar. 19, 1918 1,406,774 Straka Feb. 14, 1922 2,026,768 Aronson Jan. 7, 1936 2,065,143 Metcalf Dec. 22, 1936 2,443,672 Allen June 22, 1948 2,512,235 Lankford June 20, 1950 2,581,858 Hilt et a1. Jan. 8, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Special Base Adapts Steel Tape for Use as Beam Compass Popular Mechanics Magazine, November 1943, page 139. (Copy in 33-27 C.) 

